Machine of the semiautomatic type for casting under pressure



Sept. 24, 1929. BRUMM 1,729,536

MACHINE OF THE SEMIAUTOMATIC TYPE FOR CASTING UNDER PRESSURE F l D 1927 7 Sheets- Sheet l E. BRUMM Sept. 24, 1929.

MACHINE OF THE SEMIAUTOMATIC TYPE FOR CASTING UNDER PRESSURE Filed Dec. 9. 1927 7 ShBBtS-ShQBt 2 Sept. 24, 1929. E, BRUMM 1,729,536

MACHINE OF THE SEMIAUTOMATIC TYPE FOR CASTING UNDER PRESSURE Filed Dec. 9, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIIIIIIIIII WW: I

Sept. 24, 1929. E. BRUMM 1,729,536

MACHINE OF THE SEMIAUTOMATIC TYPE FOR CASTING UNDER PRESSURE Filed Dec. 9, 192'? 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept; 24, 1929. E, BR MM 1,729,536

MACHINE OF THE SEMIAUTOMATIC TYPE FOR CASTING UNDER PRESSURE Filed Dec. 9, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 24, 1929. E, BRUMM 1,729,536

MACHINE OF THE SEMIAUTOMATIC TYPE FOR CASTING UNDER PRESSURE Filed Dec. 9, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Sept. 24, 1929. BRUMM 1,729,536

MACHINE OF THE SEMIAUTOMATIC TYPE FOR CASTING UNDER PRESSURE Filed Dec. 9, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE EMILE BRUMM, F LYON, FRANCE MACHINE or THE SEMIAUTOMATIC TYrE r011 CASTING UNDER reassures Application filed. December 9, 1927, Serial No. 238,860, and inv France December 15, 1926.

The present invention has for its object a machine of the semi-automatic type for the obtainment of castings under pressure, by the useof compressed air or neutral gases, and

employing all suit-able metals, alloys or fusible material.

The said machine may be Constructed in two different forms, whereof one is the single type and the other the multiple type, corresponding to the casting of metals, alloys or material having different characteristics, both from a thermic standpoint as regards the temperature of the casting; and also as concerns the rate of solidification, such Inachines employing suitable moulds to this effeet. a

These two types of machine are based upon exactly the same principles as regards the casting process, in which the gas pressure is 2 applied upon the mould been filled air has been properly expelled therefrom, either by a simple displacement of the air or by employing a vacuum for this purpose; the periods of time elapsed between the filling of the mould with the melted material and the application of thevacuum on the one hand and of the com ressed air on the other have a constant va ue for each different mould, and I obtain such constant values in an accurate manner upon my said machine,

without any special care, nor any particular;

observation on the part of the operator in charge of the machine, and during each operation, by the use of an automatic time-regulator which acts exclusively upon the supply of gas under pressure, or of the vacuum.

It has in fact been observed that the filling of a mould by pressure which has not been freed from air, while oflering'external forms which are clear and precise, is as a rule defective from the fact that it will not afli'ord sound and homogeneous castings. The instantaneous or too rapid filling of the mould with the melted material which is only after it has with the melted material and the,

poured or is supplied to the mould under pressure, causes a sort of emulsion of the said material with the air which is unable to to escape rapidly enough from the mould and which is compressed in small bubbles or finely divided particles in the interior of the cast pieces, this prejudicial effect being added to that of the gases which may be naturally dis solved or occluded in the melted material such as silver, aluminium or the like. The operation of casting under pressure or by injection will by nomeans improve the casting as to its homogeneity, but is disadvantageous, firstly because it will not facilitate the escape of the gases which the melted ma- -ter1al may contain, and secondly, because it adds to such impurities, various air particles or pockets resulting from the emulsion of the amount of air which cannot leave the mould at a sufiiciently rapid rate through the air conduits or ducts which are usuallyformed on the faces of the joint of the mould. This emulsion effect may be partially attenuated by pouring the material in a less heated state. It is thus supplied to the mould in a half-pasty condition, and the air is less stirred up and Willhave more time to escape. But this method has the disadvantage of requiring a very high pressure (25 to atmospheres) in order to place the metal, thus requiring the use of very tight joints, and the mould must hence be constructed with great accuracy.

The machine, the object of the present invention, obviates all such defects, and the cast metal therein is treated in the liquid state at a relatively, low gas pressure,- such as 2 to 10 atmospheres per cubic centimeter, thus ofiering a .high output of manufacture.

,My mac'hi of the single type is provided with metalli moulds, of the type termed permanent, and non-refractory, which permit immediate solidificationof the castings in a few seconds, and ofier the maximum outnut with a single mould mounted on the machine. 'It is employed, for instance, for castings of aluminium, or of aluminium bronze or brass, or to white metals or alloys having a relatively low melting point, and analogous material adapted for rapid solidifying and with which no temp'ering action will take placeupon sudden cooling.

My machine of the multiple type comprises a certainnumber of machines of the single type which are mounted upon a rotatable disc. It is provided with permanent moulds of metallic or non-metallic material, according to the metal under treatment, and I may employ similar'mould's or different moulds, thus permitting the simultaneous production of castings of different forms with the multiple machine. i

It is suitable for metals, alloys, or analogous material, ,which are subject to. aprejudicial tempering bya rapid solidification, or which require a casting temperature which is higher than the one preceding, such as cast iron, brass ordinary bronzes, steel, silver, copper or the like andwhich must be more slowly solidified and removed from the mould.

The saidinvention will be further understood from the following description with reference to the appended drawings which are given by way of example, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a generalview of a semi-automatic machine provided withcasting' devices operating under pressure, and a time regulator.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan view.

Fig. 3 is,a section on the line 3-3 of Fig.1.'-'

Figs. 4 and 4 are respectively partial vertical sections through a multiple machine of the rotating type. r

- Fig. 5 is a partial plan view "of the same. Fig. 6 isa vertical longitudinal section of the mould. I

Fig. 7 shows the mould in the open posi- 'tion.

Fig. 8 is a front view on a large scale of the cam controlling the valves of the machine of the single type. I My machine comprises a main frame which consists of a'base 1' and two vertical uprights-23 which are substantially ribbed and are maintained by cylindrical crosspieces 4.,'on' which is slidable a plate 5. .The said plate 5 is secured to a' circular flange provided at the end of the rod of a piston 6 mova'lein a cylinder 7 into which is supplied air or water under pressure. The cylinder is completed by a device consisting of admission and discharge valves 8 under the control of an operatinglever' 8. Said device may be replaced by a mechanical device adapted to produce reciprgocating motion and operated by-hand or'byiglotor, through the medium of screws, levers oreccentrics. The disc '5 supports a block which are lmounted. the rack devices whose" shafts 1( and 11 permit the removal of the spindle: forming the hollow parts of "the-mould, ant the extraction of the cooled or solidified cast ing. F or this purpose, -'firstly, the cores 7t (Figs. 6 and 7) are mounted on a plate 71 secured to a rack 72 coacting witha pinion 7 E keyed to the shaft' and actuated by a level or handle 7 4 (Fig. 2) Also, a set of expelling push-pieces 7 5 are caused to act upon properly chosen pointsonthe surface of the member 76, and these are also mounted ona plate 77 secured to the rack 78 controlled by a lever 74 (Fig."2) secured to the shaft 11. The said levers are respectively actuated, when the plate 5 returns, by arms whichare fixed but are adjustable in position, mounted on the'upper cross-pieces 4 and not shown. When the mould is made in two parts, one part 2 is secured to a base platemounted on the upright 2 ofthe main frame, and the other part 9 is. mounted against the base plate 9 which is secured to the sliding plate.

7 These two parts co-operate, and fit upon one other, with the use of suitable matching parts. The sliding plate 5 is displaced by the actionof the cylinder 7 i If the mould is made in three parts, the third part is so combined as to be mounted on a vertical piston which is placed upon the base 1,.arranged for that purpose or upon a simple lever support. S1mila1: com inations may be employed for moulds which consist of more than three parts.- At the upper part ofthe frame 2 is mounted the casting spout 1.6. .(Figs. 1, 4 and 5). Saidspout is mounted upon a support which can be" vertically and longitudinally regulated, and comprises a horizontal slide 12' provided witha screw and hand wheel 13, a vertical slide 14 provided with a screw and hand wheel 15 supporting the bracket for'the feeding funnel 22. and'the device 17 for stopping ,the mouldswhich is horizontally slidable andjis shown in section in Fig. 4. At its lower part,'the'said funnel comprises .a'tapered fla e 16 which is accurately shaped and can e enga ed in'a female recess 16 formed at the upper part of the two members (Figs. 6 and 7 of the mould. Asobserved in-Figs'. 1 and 4, the slidable closing valve 17 is secured to a, pneumatic piston 18 movable in a cylinder 18, provided with a buffer piece 19atthe end'of the stroke, for instance of india' rubber. The said cylinder'is provided with a distributing device 20 comprising a. part which is movable in a chest 31 and efiects the instantaneous o ening and'closin of the said closing valve 1 ,supplying the uid under pressure arriving through .to one orlthe other face of thepiston 18. The distributing device 20 is qierated by the lever-'21, shown in plan view in- Fig. 2 which icontrols at the same time the release of the automatictime regulator shown at c in Figs. 1 and 2 atthe rear of the machine.

Said timing device, of which a form of construction is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, controls automatically, and without attention from the operator, subjection of the mould to a vacuum and a pressure if used, in well defined conditions, thus preventing-any false action on the part of the operator, this taking place in periods of time which are exactly determined, from the moment at which the melted material has been poured into-the feeding funnel 22 to that at which the valve 17 has been closed. For a iven mould, depending upon its rate of filling and the rate of the solidification of the melted material, these periods of time are constants which must be accurately adhered to in order to obviate the aforesaid emulsion effect.

For this purpose, the time regulator may consist of a balance rotatable device comprising a grooved pulley 23 upon which is wound a cable 24 terminated by a weight 24*, said pulley being keyed to a shaft 26 rotating in ball-bearings mounted on the frame 27. A dis'c'46 which carries cams, or forms a cam, as shown in Fig.8, is keyed to theother end of the shaft 26.. Said disc carries the cam or cams 47 coacting with the tapp'ets 28 of valves which are-contained in the box 28 and are placed upon the pipes for gas or air under pressure, or for the vacuum. For this purpose, the valve box has leading thereto, the pipe 30 supplying the fluid under pressure (Fig. 1)-and also the vacuum pipe 29 (Fig. 2). From the said box extend the flexible pipes 29-30 leading respectively to the vacuum conduit 29 (Fig. 7) of the mould, and to the pressure coupling part 16 of the said funnel holder (Fig. 1 InFigs. 1 and-2, the fullline arrows show the conduits forthe fluid under pressure, and the dotted-line arrows the vacuum conduits. The said disc 46 may be graduated, as shown in Fig. 8. It is're tained by an adjustable stop-piece 48 co-operating with a stud 49"mounted on the side of the'disc 46. The stop-piece 48 is mounted on a lever 48 pivoted to a supporting arm disposed on the base 27. A. right-angled lever 48 is connected with thecon'trol lever 21 b a link 21 which is mounted on a ball-,and-soc et joint and is adjustable in length. 7 The lever 21 is pivotallymounted at 21 on an arm secured to the cylinder 18*. It controls the pneumatic operating of the closing valve 17 of the funnel 16 by acting upon the slide valve 20. It will be observed that the time-controlling mechanism for vacuum and pressure will thus be released automatically when the operator draws on the lever 21. As soon as the stop 48 of the disc has moved away, the weight 24 draws (by gravity) the pulley 23 and the disc '46 and the cams will come successively into contact with the tappets of the valves, thus obtaining, according to the preliminary adjustment, connection between the mould 2, 9 and the vacuum conduit 29 lead ing to the bottom of the mould, and also the connection between the funnel 16 and the pressure conduit 30. The compressed gas and air will thus act upon the melted material, still liquid, which has perfectly and accurately filled the mould. The connections for said conduits are made in periods of time which depend upon the respective position of the cams on the disc 46. The-periphery of the disc is graduated to facilitate the time adjustment, according to the moulds used in the machine and the thermic characteristics of the material which is cast: The vacuum produced in the mould is distributed therein in the known manner by the internal channels 80 (Fig. 7 which are suitably arranged, these preferably leading to sets of capillary ducts formed on the joint surfaces, in which the material solidifies as soon as it is engaged therein. 7 v

The raising of the weight 24, after each operation, is effected by a suitable clutch of which one form of construction is shown upon the single type machine (Fig. 1) The said clutch is controlled by the rod-and-linkgear 51 connected with the disc 5, and it consists of a grooved sleeve 50 slidable on the shaft 26 of an actuating ring 50, and of two compensating springs 5151 adapted to compensate'the advance during the possible short stop upon engagement of the teeth or grooved parts of the sleeve 50 with the corresponding grooved parts of the hub ofthedisc 23 which is loose on the shaft 26. This clutching takes place when the disc 5 returns to the rear in order to open the mould and to expel the cast piece. The disc 23 is now secured to the shaft 26; it rotates therewith and raises'the weight 24,'after which the clutch of said plate is disengaged.

As shown in Fig. 1, the rod 51 is broken off, solely to facilitate illustration of the apparatus. Said rod is permanently secured to the disc 5 .which moves it at each of its displacements. It is provided at the other end with a right-angled .point and a boss carrying an axle. The said axle serves for the pivotation of the jointed rod 51 for which the point B serves as a stop when it is brought back by the spring 51 The end A serves to attach the said spring.

The rods 51 and 51 each comprise a pointed end which serves for. actuating purposes when they are engaged. The rod 51 further carries at its end a ball which can enter the ring 50* and thus actuate the clutch 50. All of the said rods are slidable on supports secured to the base 27 or to the frame 2.

The operator in charge of the control of the machine performs the following operations: Assuming the mold to be open, the funnel 16 is fitted into the female cone 16 of the stationary part2 of themould, (Figs. 6 and 7).

' He then operates the Ever 8 for the admission to the cylinder 7 thus-driving out the piston' whose rod (i forms the mould. Then he pours the melted material into the feeding funnel 22. When said' material has been poured, he at once operates the lever 21 so as toproduce at the same time the closing of the funnel and the release'of the time-regulating device for vacuum and pressure, according to periods of time which are constant for a given mould andwhich correspond successively to the use of'the vacuum at the end of the filling operation and to the use of the pressure when the mould is completely filled and is emptied of any, remaining airwhen the metal is still in the fluid state, so as to obtain the maximum approach to liquid molecules and to' avoid an excessive shrinkage. Finally, he operates the admission lever 8 in the opposite direction, thus returning the piston to the starting position and effecting the opening of the mould, and automatically expelling the moulded and solidified piece. These very simple opgra- "tions are performed instantly and without-effort, thus providing for rapid production with the machine.

The machine of the multiple type is shown in Figs. 4, 4 and 5 and comprises essentially a rotatable disc 32' upon which are radially mounted in the equidistant position a certain number ,(six in the example represented) of machines of thesingletype as hereinbefore described, but in which the distributor -8 of the cylinder 7 has been eliminated. The said machines are equipped with a time regulating devicewith positive electric control by a small 5. independent electric motor d which furnishes only a small amount of power (about 1/10 horsepower). Each of these machines comprises a slightly modified construction as concerns the clutching of the grooved pulley 23 -4.0 which itself carries the cam 47, thus eliminating the disc 46, so as to reduce the size of this device. 1 As willbeffurther specified, therO- tatable disc 32 turns upona stationary axle 34. The central hub thereof is supported by '45 a ball or roller bearing 35, and comprises a '-worm wheel 36 coacting with a worm 37 mounted on a shaft which is driven by external power transmission gear, with the use.

of a clutch, known per se. A collar 38 0011- centric with the said hub carries radially thecross-bracing rods 39 upon which are mounted in the equidistant position the rol1ers4O which turn between the roller race 41 provided on the disc 32 and the roller race 42 concentric with the axle 34 secured upon the'bot-' tom ofthe pit 43 in which the disc 32 rotates, sothat its upper movable part will be at the lyel of the room floor.

To the stationary axle 34 is keyed a central I .6 distributer-for compressed air, a neutral gas,

or water under pressure, and optionally a vacuum. of'which one form of construction is shown in the shape of a 'stationaryitapered member 44 and a rotatable barrel 45, which is connectedby pipes carrying solely the fluid time-regulator 0.

under pressure, with each of the single-type machines mounted on the said plate. The

barrel 45 comprises the channels 60. which proceed successivelyin coincidence with the channels 61 which are connected with the supply pipes 62 of the fluid under pressure.

Each of the time-regulating devices differs from the one previouslydescribed, from-the fact that theclutch is positively controlled in this. apparatus, by oscillations of the small separate electric motor which drives it.

These oscillations are preferably obtained by auxiliary means. The smallmotor, which rotates in one direction, is preferably supported by a horizontal shaft which allows it to take two inverse positions. Since the motor shaft is terminated by a worm, when in one position i worm wheel,f this position being automatically obtained by a ratchet device acting as a secondary motor, whenthe weight has been raised.

The operationis asfollows.

The melting furnace is situated at a fixed point on the periphery of' the pit,and the disc rotates at the proper speed when turned by the clutch device which acts upon the external power transmissiongear, which is operated by the foundry workman. The first machine comes into coincidence with the metal. supply apparatus which is placed in communication, by the movement of the said central distributer, with'the fluid under pressure, so that its cylinder 7 will close the mould.

The operatorthen stops the disc 32 and pours the melted metal into the funnel 22 and then, acts upon the lever 21 which effects the closing by the pneumatic piston 18 of the valve 17 of the funnel, and the release of the ;The foundry workman again acts upon .the said clutch device, which causes another angular displacement of the disc 32, and so During this new displacement, the .device, in which there has just been formed a casting under pressure, has remained, due to the central distribut'er, in connection with the pressure of the fluidr supplied to the cylinder the inverse'communication withthe fluid pressure. Themould then opens,.thus causing the automatic expulsion of the solidified casting. I v

Each device, before making its cvmplete revolution, -i. e., before returning into position in coincidence with the melting furnace at the metal supply apparatus, is brought to a stop before an inspector who observes the condition of the mould, and assures its lining, if necessary, with a thin refractory coacting or facing by a spraying process or analogous expedient which will depend upon the material to be cast.

While I'have described what I deem to be the preferable form of my improved casting machine I do not wish to be limited thereto since there might be many changes made in the construction and arrangement of the various elements without departing from the spirit of my invention as comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a casting machine of'the type described, the combination of a mould, means for filling said mould, means for closing said filling means, means for subjecting said mould to a fluid pressure, means for subjecting said mould to a vacuum, and time-controlled means for successively operating said pressure and vacuum supplying means at a predetermined time after closing of said filling means.

2.. In a casting machine of the type described, the combination of a mould, means for filling said mould, means for opening said mould, means for subjecting said mould to a fluid pressure, means for subjecting said mould to a vacuum, time-controlled means for successively operating said pressure and vac uum supplying means at a predetermined time after closing said filling means, and means responsive to said mould opening ,means for restoring said time-controlled means to its initial position.

3. In a casting machine of the type described, the combination of a mould, means for filling said mould, means for opening and closing said mould, means for subjecting said mould to a fluid pressure, means for subjecting said mould to a vacuum, and adjustable time-controlled means for successively operating said pressure and vacuum supplying means at a predetermined time after closing of said filling means.

4. In a casting machine of the type described, the combination of a mould, means for filling said mould, means for opening and closing said mould, means for subjecting said mould to a fluid pressure, means for subjecting. said mould to a vacuum, adjustable timecontrolled means for successively operating said pressure and vacuum supplying means at a predetermined time after closing of sai filling means, and means responsive to said mould opening meansfor restoring said timecontrolled means to its initial position.

i 5. In a casting machine of the type described, the combination of a mould, means for filling said mould, means for opening and closing said mould, a pressure conduit for said mould, a vacuum conduit for said mould, a control valve for each of said conduits, a cam disk adapted to successively operate saidicontrol valves, time-controlled means for operating said cam disk, and means responsive to the closing of said filling means for releasing said time-controlled means, whereby said pressure and vacuum conduits are opened at a predetermined time after the ,closing of said filling means.

6, In a casting machine of the type described, the combination of a mould, means for filling said mould, means for opening and closing said mould, a pressure conduit for said mould, a vacuum conduit for said mould, a control valve for each of saidconduits, a cam disk adapted to successively operate said control valves, a grooved pulley adapted to drive said cam disk, a cable for driving said pulley, a weighton said cable. means responsive to the closing of said filling means for releasing said pulley, whereby said pressure and vacuum conduits are opened at a predetermined time after the closing of said filling means, and means responsive to said mould opening means for rewinding said cable on said pulley.

7. In a casting machine of the type-de' scribed, the combination of a mould, a filling spout for said mould, a gate valve for closing said spout, an operating lever for said gate, valve, a pressure conduit for said mould, a vacuum'conduit for said mould, a control valve for each of said conduits, a cam disk adapted to successively operate said control valves, a stop lug on said cam disk, a pivotally mounted pawl disposed in the path of said lug, and a link interconnecting said pa W1 and said operating lever, whereby said pressure and vacuum conduits are opened at a predetermined time after said operating lever has been moved to close said gate valve.

8. Ina casting machine of the type described, the combination of a rotatable disk, a plurality of symmetrically disposed moulds mounted on said disk, means for filling said moulds individually associated with each of said moulds, means for subjecting each of said moulds to a fluid pressure, means for subjecting each of saidmoulds to a vacuum, and a time controlling mechanism associated with each of said moulds for successively operating the pressure and vacuum supply- I ing means thereof at a predetermined time after closing ofthe said filling means thereof.

9. In a casting machine of the type described, the combination of a rotatable disk, a plurality of symmetrically disposed moulds mounted on said disk, means controlled by said disk for automatically opening and closing said moulds in succession as said disk is turned on its axis, filling means associated with each of said moulds a pressure conduit r the molten material s poured, a gate valve for each of said 'moulds,distribution means operated by said disk for successively controlling the pressure through said conduits, and a time-controlled valve for each of said conduits, each adapted'to be released upon closing of said filling means, whereby said mould is subjected to said pressure at a predetermined time after closing of said filling means.

scribed, the combination of a mould, means for filling said mould, means for closing said filling means, means for subjecting said mould to a fluid pressure, time-controlled means for. operating said pressure supplying means, and mechanical means. directly responsive to'said closing means for releasing said time-controlled means whereby fluid pressure is automatically supplied to said specification. 10. Ina casting machine of the. typedefor successively opening said valves and mechanical means directly connecting said 1 operatin lever and said time-controlled means w ereby fluid pressure and vacuum are automatically supplied to said mould at a predetermined timeafter closing said filling spout.

In testimony whereof I have signed this EMILE .BRUMM.

mould at a predetermined'time after closing of said filling means.

11. In a. castingmachine of the type ;described, the combination of a mould, means for filling said mould, means for closing said filling means, means for subjecting said mould-toa fluid pressure, means for subject-Y for filling said mould means for closing said filling means, means for subjecting said mould to a fluid pressure, and time-controlled means for operating said pressure supplying means at. a predetermined time after closing of said filling means.

13. Ina casting machine of the type described, the combination of amould, afilling' spout for said mould, in Whichfilling spout the molten material ispoured, a gate valve for closing said spout, an operating lever for said gate valve, a pressure conduit for said mould,'a control valve for said conduit, time controlled means for opening said valve and mechanical means directly connecting said operating lever and said time-controlled means whereby fluid pressure is automatically's'upplied to said mould at a predetermined time after closing said filling spout.

14. In -acasting machine of the type described, the combination of a mould, a filling spout for said mould, in which filling spout for closing saidspout, an operating lever for sa d gatevalve, a pressure conduit for said mould, a. c0ntrol valve for said "conduit, a

" vacuum conduit for said mould, a controlvalve for said conduit, time-controlled means 

